DARPA wants smart nuclear reactor for space and bases

DARPA awarded Space Nuclear Power Corporation, known as SpaceNukes, an agreement under the Fat Cat program to develop and ground-test autonomous control for a compact nuclear reactor. Working with Los Alamos National Laboratory, the company will examine active control-rod operation in a Kilopower-class system, drawing on experience from the 2018 KRUSTY reactor demonstration. The project progresses through engineering, procurement and integration before planned nuclear ground testing, with the aim of reducing reliance on continuous external reactor control. It does not constitute an announced deployment of an operational reactor in orbit or at a military base.